Auntie's Workshop

Since my last post , I've gotten a few more projects done. 50 for fifty One of my 50 for fifty goals was to pick up cross stitching again.  I'd cross stitched for years, but when my move to Colorado came up, I didn't have room for any of my supplies or printed patterns.  I did, however, manage to save a few pattern files to disc.  I found a relatively simple pattern, bought the supplies, and got to work. There are a few errors in it (name one of my projects that doesn't have errors) but I'm really pleased with it.  I learned a couple of things in this process.  First, I learned that I could actually still do this craft (the patterns are small and not always easy to follow).  Second, I learned to check my receipts.  Embroidery floss at Hobby Lobby is 60-cents each color roll, but for some crazy reason, it rung up the set I bought for this project at $1.89 each!  That's a no-no. More Parties Jen came over for a make-it party.  I really like t...

Yes, I know it's been a hot minute since my last post .  Cut me some slack, I've been just a tad bit busy with commencement, getting my home office area ready for a more permanent situation, and of course, crafting. 50 for fifty One of my 50 for fifty goals was to pick up plastic canvas crafts again.  When I moved to Colorado, I started completely over with my craft supplies (except my sewing machine and some of my books).  One that fell by the wayside was plastic canvas.  To be honest, I wasn't even sure that craft stores sold plastic canvas anymore (I can't get supplies or patterns for other crafts I used to do).  Fortunately both Hobby-Lobby and Wal-Mart carry plastic canvas, so I purchased a package of seven-count canvas and some yarn (those blankets and baby booties wiped me out). The first thing I made was a plastic canvas version of this crochet pattern for a boutique-style tissue box cover: http://www.tissueboxbakery.com/2013/11/29/free-pattern-yellow-c...

In my last post , I finished up my Get 'er Done challenge by finally completing a painting I started more than a year ago.  This, unfortunately was not the only project I left undone for an inordinate amount of  time.  Sample courtesy of Paintology 101 Y'all know that I miss my girl Donna from Paintology 101, a paint and sip from back home, and I frequently "steal" ideas from whatever her painting classes are working on (she doesn't care; she misses me too).  A while back, her class did this decoupage painting (see sample above).  I'd never done this type of decoupage before so I got out my homemade Mod Podge , an old book that ALREADY had pages torn and missing when it was given to me, an unused 16x20 inch stretched canvas and some acrylic paint. Gluing down the torn pages of the book wasn't difficult, but I didn't let them dry long enough before trying to put the top coat of glue on, so some of the paper pieces shifted and had to be cut off or glued ...

   End of Round Two For Phase one, look here .  For Phase two, look here .   During the Christmas holidays (when I was temporarily off restriction), I bought a bunch of decorative mesh.  Even though I made several wreaths and angels as Christmas presents, I still had a drawer full of leftover mesh rolls and small Christmas ball ornaments.  I used up all the ornaments to make angels (getting a jump on Christmas 2021).  I used the leftover mesh and ribbon from a previous "make it" party in a spring wreath for my door.  The mesh around the door is from my Christmas stash.  Even after all this, I STILL have rolls of mesh left.     My friend, Misty came over for a painting party... ...and I took the practice canvas from the party and tried something new.   I turned a few leftover flowers from the unicorn flower pot into magnets. I'd bought the magnets at the Dollar Tree a long time ago and didn't realize that the magnet wasn't remov...

   Round Two:  Phase Two For Phase one, look here .    This phase was a painting frenzy for me.     I've still got several canvases--some started and some still in the package-- in the closet just begging to be painted. This is an alternate version of the painting I did at the now closed Pinot's Palette in Westminster.  It's a sample for a couple of upcoming painting parties.  I had to make another sample because (1) it had been so long since I painted the first one I needed to see if I remembered how to do it and (2) I had to adjust it from a 10 x 30 inch canvas to a 12 x 24 canvas, plus find a mix of paint that equated the color from Pinot's (I have no idea where they got either the canvas or the paint).  Like all my successful samples, it will go on my party wall (more on that to come).     I liked that painting so much that I decided to make a brush/pencil holder (a flower pot) and a box for my small ribbon spools (an empty...

  Round Two:  Phase One To see all of round one... For week one, look here .  For week two, look here .  For weeks three and four, look here .  For weeks five, six, and seven, look here . For the end of round one, look here .    Noticed a change on this blog? I finally made my sign/logo the way I wanted to all along.  I was never happy with the old one that I painted, but I made it do.  Thanks to a leftover 12x24 inch canvas, some craft supplies I don't use, and my friend Diana's Cricut, I now have a logo I can proud of. I was given some craft foam a year or two ago but really didn't know what to do with it.  Quite honestly, I still don't know what it's supposed to be used for, but I did find out that it could be painted.  I cut out some flowers, painted them and glued some leftover sparkly gems in their middles so they didn't look so flat. I also cut out a horn and painted it and added leaves for accents.  BTW-- all the gluing...